Motorists using the busy James Gichuru-Rironi Road could soon pay to use the road after the National Treasury unveiled plans to introduce toll charges under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
According to Treasury's Quarterly PPP Status Update report, the government seeks to introduce toll fees under private management once the ongoing Ksh20 billion rehabilitation works along the route are complete.
Treasury said it approved the project note in September 2026, paving the way for further steps towards selecting a private partner to complete outstanding works and manage the road under tolling.
"The road is a brownfield project involving the rehabilitation and completion of outstanding civil works, together with the introduction of tolling under a Management Contract," Treasury stated.
Undated image of the Westlands toll station of the Nairobi Expressway
File
"The project seeks to establish a sustainable framework for the operation, maintenance and long-term management of the corridor, which carries high volumes of commuter, passenger and freight traffic," it added.
The 25-kilometre road stretches from James Gichuru Junction near Westlands and ABC Place through Kangemi, Uthiru, Kinoo and Gitaru to Rironi, where it connects to the Nairobi-Nakuru highway.
The highway forms part of the Northern Corridor, a major transport route linking the Port of Mombasa through Nairobi to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The expansion project was designed to increase capacity by adding a three-lane main carriageway in each direction, along with service roads and improved drainage.
According to the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), the project seeks to reduce the travel time between James Gichuru Junction and Rironi from one hour to 30 minutes.
Construction began in August 2017 but faced delays due to funding challenges, forcing the government to seek alternative financing after the World Bank withdrew its support for the project.
The proposed PPP arrangement is expected to help complete the remaining works while providing for the road’s long-term operation and maintenance.
If implemented, the plan would require motorists to pay toll charges to use the road, potentially increasing transport costs for residents of Kangemi, Uthiru, Kinoo, Gitaru and other neighbouring areas.
Motorists caught up in traffic in the Westlands area, Nairobi County.
Photo: Kenyans.co.ke